“Sixth Sense”, game-changing wearable tech

Developed by the Fluid Interfaces Group at MIT Media Lab.

Now… What is Interaction Design?

{

It’s easy to understand the confusion, since interaction design as a discipline borrows theory and technique from traditional design, psychology, and technical disciplines. It is a synthesis, however—more than a sum of its parts, with its own unique methods and practices. It is also very much a design discipline, with a different approach than that of scientific and engineering disciplines. In an effort to clarify this, I offer the following definitions for interaction design.

Interaction Design is a design discipline dedicated to:

• Defining the behavior of artifacts, environments, and systems (i.e., products)

…and therefore concerned with:

• Defining the form of products as they relate to their behavior and use
• Anticipating how the use of products will mediate human relationships and affect human understanding
• Exploring the dialogue between products, people, and contexts (physical, cultural, historical)

Interaction design is also a perspective that approaches the design of products in several different ways:

• From an understanding of how and why people desire to use them
• As an advocate for the users and their goals
• As gestalts, not simply as sets of features and attributes
• By looking to the future-seeing things as they might be, not necessarily as they currently are

Given these definitions, interaction designers must:

• Learn new domains quickly
• Solve problems both analytically and creatively
• Be able to visualize and simplify complex systems
• Empathize with users, their needs, and their aspirations
• Understand the strengths and limitations of both humans and technology
• Share a passion for making the world a better place through ethical, purposeful, pragmatic, and elegant design solutions

}

Adapted from Cooper Journal [http://www.cooper.com/journal/2001/06/so_you_want_to_be_an_interacti.html]

Collaborative Music Creation.

Stimulant created an application for Microsoft Surface that allows the creation of music (modern audio compositions) with multiple users.  ToneGrid is a grid-based music sequencing application that is inspired by the works of Toshio Iwai.

DREAMfreq! // final prototype

This is my final prototype, which will be showing part of the interactions in my concept.  I prototyped using processing with arduino to simulate the tuning of colours through the sliding action.  I hacked an optical mouse and used it to track movements along the X-axis.  Using processing, I was able to translate the the position of the mouse cursor, into values that were able to change the RGB LEDs accordingly.

I’ve also fitted a mini speaker within the lamp to have sounds playing from within the lamp, and the sliding movements of the lamp will also trigger a fast-forward in the audio clip.  This is to simulate the tuning of the sound recordings when you tune the colours.

This is a video of my prototype at the graduation exhibition.  It is showing the tuning of colours thru the sliding movement of the lamp.

DREAMfreq! // interactions

The freqLight switches on via a simple downward push on the top.  freqLight senses the action and lights up gradually.  It will shine the colour pattern that was recorded the previous night.  This colour pattern is referred to as the Sleep Symphony.

DREAMfreq! // Concept definition

DREAMfreq! is an interactive lighting system that consists of an ambient lamp, which I called the freqLight, and a sensing pillow.  The pillow will have embedded sensors to sense the user’s head movement.  Every movement made by the user will trigger an accumulated increment in the hue values of the freqLight, transforming the colours.

DREAMfreq! // Concept

DREAMfreq! is a concept ambient lighting system that monitors an individual’s sleeping behaviours.  It senses the user’s movement while sleeping and translates them into soothing colours that light up the space.  With this layer of information, the user is able to have a rough understanding of what has been happening while he was unconscious.  It could help the user on taking decisions of his sleep time, changing the mattress for a better sleep, or lowering the temperature of the room because it is warmer in the summer.

Another aspect of the concept is based on the fact that everyone dreams while they are asleep. 

EVERYDAYSALONE

Domus Academy 2008 – Around Mobile | Always Beta!

Project Leader: Setsu Ito

Collaborators:

Jakkapun Charinrattana, Michelle Man, Jonning Chng

Abstract

Undoubtedly, Milan turns into the most vibrant city overnight because of the Salone del Mobile.  It is the time when artists and designers alike get the opportunity to showcase their work in galleries and urban infrastructures all over the city, be it bus stops, bridges, or even footpaths. People can immerse themselves in the world of creativity, wherever they are.

As the Salone ends, the liveliness fades, artists and designers resort to the conventional ways to exhibit their works, in the physical and the virtual environment, confined to assigned spaces.

EVERYDAYSALONE is a revolutionary online community-based system that blurs the boundaries between the virtual and physical reality.  By integrating virtual artwork with the real physical environment, a new form of self-expression is born, allowing the freedom to show artwork anywhere, hence creating a Salone atmosphere in our everyday lives.

iMON :: a kids’ play-thing

Domus Academy 2008 – Excentric|Eccentrico

Project Leader: Stefano Cardini

Collaborators:

Hyeonjeong Jeon, Trusha Sawant, Gianpaolo Tucci, Jonning Chng

Abstract

Children have wild imaginations.  Having imaginary companions is part of a child’s growing up days.  Imaginative play is nature’s way of teaching the developing child some of life’s simple lessons.  iMON is a portable toy that gives life to their imaginary creations, who will stick by the child in times of fear and loneliness.  Interaction between the child and the device stimulates enjoyment and establishes connections with other children.  iMON will make every childhood experience a long lasting one.